This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is a Mess

Stand-out Tracks: “Kevin”, “Need To Know”, “Bolo Tie”

This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s second full-length studio album and comes nearly three years after the massively successful The Heist. Since the first album was released Macklemore has been through a lot; he went from being praised to being criticized after the Grammy controversy, he received backlash from black community, he received backlash from the LGBTQ+ community, he relapsed after drug use and lets not forget he also became a father, all things that would suggest this new album to be one of his finest work. However, quite like the album title, the end result is a mess.

The first thing that should be noted about this new album is Ryan Lewis’ contribution. His production is excellent throughout. Lewis clearly has control over his craft and is able to create massive swooning beats with orchestral strings as well as catchy radio tunes. If there is one element of homogeneity in this album, it is Lewis’ production.

Secondly, there are a couple of really good tracks on the album. Macklemore’s controversy originates from the fact that he broke into the mainstream with radio-friendly hip hop. In the first track off the album, Macklemore raps about changing the public’s perception of him, that he is first and foremost a rapper. The songs that cater to this idea are the best off the album. Bolo Tie is an example of this, featuring YG, both artists rap agressive bars, with Macklemore presenting a strong case for why the industry should consider him primarily a hip hop artist.

The problem is that even if the album has some really good tracks, it is mostly littered with some of Macklemore’s worst work to date. This constant change between quality rap and radio music gives the whole project a messy feel. One moment you’re listening to the honest introspective bars of Light Tunnels, the next you’re listening to a song about mopeds. Or, you’ll be listening to a horrible cheesy song about how Macklemore thinks he could be Brad Pitt’s cousin only to then be listening to a heartbreaking song on struggling with addiction and relapse one track later. Its confusing and ultimately distancing. There is nothing wrong with having radio singles on your album, but at least group them together at the beginning of the album and not spread out taking away from otherwise great rap tracks.

And then there is Dance Off which is, quite simply, a bad song.

Ultimately, this album is not going to win back many of the fans Macklemore lost in the past year nor is it going to create any new ones. This album has a couple of stand-out tracks, however it is ultimately mediocre anytime else. One might even start to believe that the album title is to be taken literally.

(Originally written and published for Frequency21.com)